Soop's warm and welcoming kitchen for kindly folk...

Found you!! It's lovely and warm isn't it? Anyone fancy crumpets with lots of butter and syrup. I don't mind sharing.

Good news about your children Sue.

Pleased to hear that SueD I was thinking of you last night.

Good news Suedonim. Nannytopsy I'm very fond of stollen. I'll have a slice, if I may.

Hello the kitchen! Very cosy in here tonight. I hope you don’t mind my nightie and dressing gown? There’s stollen on the table.

What a lovely, cosy kitchen! I’ve brought some comfy chairs the same as ds2 has. They’re a fancy designer chair and every bit of them is adjustable! We’ll soon all be asleep. 😴

We had a long drive home today from the south of England (temp 1deg) to Scotland (temp currently minus 6) via the Beattock summit which was minus 9. 🧊 ⛄️ 🥶 Thankfully, our house was cosy. We’d been struggling with the heating controls but it seems to have been working well while we were away.

Good news from my dd. Her problem appears to be minor and should resolve itself naturally in the near future, although other tests are being done just to double check. Such a relief.

My ds is home and continuing his recovery there. He said he was grumpy today, so I think that means he’s on the right road.When he was poorly as a child I always knew it was time for him to go back to school when he started being cross!

That’s all for now, about to fall into bed. Xxx

‘Evening All’

Cosy inside (yes the heating finally went on at the weekend!). It’s been bitterly cold all day outside. I’ve had to go out twice and despite wearing multiple layers, thick socks, boots, sheepskin mittens and a warm beanie hat the cold seemed to just seep right through. What is it though with some men wearing boots and shorts? Brr!

Squish up please, I got cold earlier and I’m taking ages to warm up, that’s Raynauds for you.
What fun neine a frolicsome elf!
Sounds delightful GrannySomerset a medal is deserved for that man
I was on voluntary phone duty today and all lifts are sorted, a first in one day. Then I went out for a walk, got really chilled, Christmas tree has been delivered, let the decorating commence tomorrow, MrJ will help (he loves it). I’ll be out to forage for holly and ivy at the weekend.
I’ve left a box of Ferraro Rocher, large box, don’t fight, on the side, not near the fire!
Enjoy your evening all x

Happy new Kitchen! What a wonderful festive 🎄 haven, Soop your decorations 🌟 are beautiful. It's so cosy and welcoming on this cold and frosty night. 🔥 I'll sit by the log burner if I may... chicken sandwiches on the side, caramelised onion chutney too, if you wish!

My dining room is like Santa's Grotto, DH and I have been sitting at the table wrapping presents all afternoon, with Alexa playing Christmas songs and the chicken roasting in the oven. A happy time. 🥰
I hope everyone is safe and warm this freezing cold evening, I'm thinking of you all, especially those with illness, worries or sorrow. I will wish everyone an early NNGB.💕🙏

Leek and potato soup is my favourite Yia, thank you!

Hello all, what a lovely new kitchen, thank you Soop. A recliner and a tartan blanket is just the job for me. Fab picture Yia it looks like a very happy occasion.
I have spent most of today diving down the Rabbit Hole that is the ScotlandsPeople website. The old documents are so fascinating but are testing my vision deciphering them. So nice to come across some manse records written in a beautiful easy-to-read script in the 1700s. I often wonder how those young newly married people felt and what the future held for them. Some turbulent times in the Highlands and elsewhere.

Glad to have found this escape from reality after a very busy but delightful few days with DD and DSiL. Heroic DSiL drove down to collect me on Friday, from Liverpool to York on Saturday, from York to Hull and then back to Liverpool via Leeds on Sunday, and then from Liverpool to the West Country today. Am awaiting a call to tell me he is safely home. What a marathon - and what a star he is.

DD and I had a sentimental prowl round unbelievably busy York with a successful shop, a very cheerful dinner with DD’s best friend from school and her mum and then on Sunday morning Matins in York Minster before driving to Hull to see DGD1 playing her violin in Opera North’s Youth Ensemble. Only six violins so she has done amazingly to be selected and we were very proud and purry. She is in high spirits at the end of her first term at Leeds and feels she is in the right place. Not sure about the work but everything else seems to be going swimmingly. Oh to be young again!

Still catching up with everyone after being away but hope all is as well as it can be.

Hello everyone, found you.

Mulled wine and mince pies left on the table. Help yourselves.

"Send your lurve my darleeng, send your love!" Naughty I remember them well! You have a gift with words.

Two posts in one day... But it doesn't count as one was in the old kitchen and this one is in the new.
I'm glad I brought a smile to your face Hellogirl... We are all here with you.
Annsixty... We are here for you too... It's the strangest of things that make us weep and catch us unawares. Little drummer boy came on the radio and I was immediately 5 or 6 years old listening to my Daddy singing along to it...I could see him ( all 6ft 5in) standing by the back door and as they say... The memories of it fell out of my eyes and trickled down my face.
I'm sitting here in the dark at the moment... It's part of the power saving sessions put on by Octopus...it's an opt in thing and I like to think I'm doing my bit. I have the log fire alight and it's candles everywhere. DOH is due home at 6 ... He'll probably think a romantic interlude is on the cards!!!!
I've just read my timehop from 7 years ago when I was driving myself round Oz and NZ. It's making me giggle so I'm sharing it with you. It's lovely being in our beautiful Kitchen. I've lit some Clementine candles to make it even more Christmassy.

Only me.....today is a quiet day after the whistlestop tour of North Queensland over the last few days. ..so I decide I'll walk 4 mile beach....I set off at a respectable pace thinking a good 8 mile hike will blow away any lurking cobwebs. The beach was deserted...proving Noel Coward right that only mad dogs and English(wo)men go out in the midday sun.....about 200 yards from the end of the beach when my heart is seriously considering leaving it's usual residence and bursting out of my chest screaming 'I want to break free' I spot a park bench...at this point 2 things occur to me....the sweat pouring into my eyes has misted up my contact lenses..or I've fallen onto the set of a remake of The Desert song' and am caught up in a mirage scene. I didn't care. ..I nigh on gallop across the last few metres and throw myself on whatever it was...It was indeed a wonderful welcoming 3 seater and as I lay there panting like a rabid dog...I realise I am probably not the first to be in need of a park bench on a beach in the tropics. Anyway slowly recovering I whittled away some time exfoliating my feet with sand and a bit of bark ( my aborigine friend from yesterday would be proud of me..) I had to stop using the bark as on closer inspection it made my feet look like I had trodden in some dingo dung. Breathing then restored to more normal levels and not liking the look of the 4 miles back I decide to belt out a few Adele numbers. ..I start with ' Don't you remember ' complete with the those gurgly bits and was full throttle into 'Someone like you' when the shortest man I have ever seen appears from nowhere. .wearing shorts and playing a guitar. ..I KID YOU NOT. .my jaw dropped not only onto my ample bosom but possibly even further....he proceeds to walk towards me looking like a younger version of Ronato (and Renne ..Google it). Thinking now would be a good time to pretend to be a reincarnated Helen Keller but not being certain sure that some of my signing actually means what I think it does....He is now getting even closer and seriously not wishing to be asked to join in him in an Aussie version of 'Save your Love'. I did the only thing left to me...I close my eyes and pretend I'm asleep. ....counting to 500 I then partially open one eye and see the Queensland Renato happily serenading himself in the other direction to mine...Dear reader...I practically jog back across the beach.

Good evening Kitcheners and Soop in particular. I'll have a seat near the fire, if I may. I've had to go out three times today and each time I've had to scrape the ice from the car. It's bloomin freezing! I know it's winter and we should expect the cold but I've been lulled into a false sense of security with the milder weather. That'll larn me! In addition I was up at 5.30 for extra childcare time as dd had to drive to the office. I'm sitting on the couch contemplating the toy chaos surrounding me. I will sort it out shortly but I need to regroup. Soop I hope you can get to see the specialist nurse. I am having pasta bake for dinner. Have a good evening Kitcheners.

Hello Kitcheners.It’s so lovely and warm I will settle here for the evening.Have homemade leek and potato soup with sourdough bread,enjoy.We have had a very snowy drive home from Derbyshire.Sad to leave DS but he’s slowly improving and they will be here for New year.Went out with Dil and her friends Saturday night and DS And DH watched the match at home,it was a nice evening and I managed to keep up🤣

Hugs to Anne and kind thoughts to all.Stay warm.

Good evening Kitcheners! Oh I do love a new kitchen! Warm, friendly and full of promise.

Hello Kitcheners! Is it alright if I sit by the fire with a fluffy blanket wrapped around me, it`s so cold outside? It`s lovely and warm in here Soop, helped, no doubt, by the company.

Hello, lovely Baggs. It is a pleasure to have your company.

Welcome, Septimia*, aggie, Pittcity and brook.

Wishing all our Kitcheners a pleasant evening.

I shall return tomorrow.

Hi everyone- Happy new Kitchen, it’s so warm and toasty in here thanks for opening up soop, the Christmas tree in the corner looks so festive and bright too !
I don’t think it’s got above about minus 3º here today, the snow is very crunchy and frozen and the cold air is making my face sting. I got nice and warm at the gym, a zumba dance class and then a dip in the pool followed by 10 mins in the steam room which was just so lovely and warm. Now to settle down by the log fire in the corner and snooze ..

Brrr...let me in out of the snow. A comfy seat by the fire please.

Hi all kitcheners 👋 , I usually read but seldom post , but you are in my thoughts and prayers x

Happy new kitchen to everyone!

I don't usually post, but I do read so as to keep up with everyone's news and to keep in my thoughts and prayers those who need it.

Hello, soop!